Disinfectants join the battle against cold and flu

LEBANON, Pa. — Ever since H1N1, prevention has been a strong theme resonating through each cough-cold season. And now that there’s a strong flu season driving traffic, retailers like CVS/pharmacy here are strategically placing end-caps, such as this Lysol display, leading into the cough-cold sets. Tissues and even hand sanitizers had always been good ancillary categories that enjoyed a lift during cold and flu season. Now disinfectant cleaners are a good category to benefit from those sniffles and sneezes too.

“We’re thankful for our customers and employees who step up to give in such a generous way,” stated Linda Lovejoy, Wegmans’ community relations manager. “Their donations at checkout help reduce hunger that exists right in our own neighborhoods and communities.”

The fall campaigns ran at various dates from October to December. Timing of the annual checkout scanning campaigns varies by region. During this time, the remaining Wegmans stores, which run annual checkout campaigns in February, held a one-time scanning campaign for Feeding America, which provided resources to food banks in the areas affected by Hurricane Sandy. Stores in Buffalo, Syracuse, the Southern Tier, and parts of Pennsylvania accepted donations November 6 – 25, raising $87,000.

Hunger relief scanning campaigns raised a total of $2.3 million at Wegmans in 2012. Since these programs began in 1993, Wegmans has raised more than $21 million for hunger relief.

In addition to money raised for emergency food services in 2012, Wegmans also donated 16 million pounds of food to local food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens across all of its market areas.

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It always amazes me how our people despite such truly tough financial times are still involved with charity. It is a very noble thing to do for sure. One of my friends want to participate in a local charity event so much that she even took out cashadvance (it’s just her pay check was due a week after an even took a place). It was very sweet of her. But it is still better to put aside some if you want to donate. And you know what a total of $2.3 million at Wegmans in 2012 is a great achievement. Maybe it is not a big amount for somebody, but it is better than nothing anyways.

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Penniless: Most Canadian retailers ready for phase-out of 1-cent coins, retailing group says

TORONTO — Most retailers in Canada are ready for a phase-out of 1-cent coins, a national retailing trade group said Wednesday.

The Retail Council of Canada said the majority of the country’s retail businesses were prepared for the disappearance of the penny and will follow the government’s proposals for determining prices.

The Canadian Mint stopped producing pennies last spring and will begin phasing them out of circulation starting on Feb. 4. At that point, retailers are encouraged to round prices up and down to the nearest five cents when exact change is not available. For example, an item that costs $1.01 or $1.02 will be rounded down to $1, while an item costing $1.06 or $1.07 will be rounded to $1.05; an item costing $1.03 to $1.04 will be rounded to $1.05, while an item costing $1.08 or $1.09 will be rounded to $1.10. Rounding will not be needed when payment is made by check or electronically.

"On Feb. 4, most of Canada’s retailers will be ready at the cash register to handle the phase out of the penny," RCC president and CEO Diane Brisebois said. "While we have been supportive of this initiative all along, we are grateful that the government delayed implementing the changes until this point, as retailers have needed the extra time to prepare."

According to an RCC survey, 55% of retailers are prepared for the phase-out, while 74% of small retailers and 75% of large retailers will round manually at the cash register. At the same time, 63% of large businesses will change their point-of-sale systems, which could cost them more than $100,000.

"While smaller businesses will do the rounding manually and then determine the appropriate course of action, both in relation to cost and customer service, it is not a practical approach for retailers with thousands of employees," Brisebois said. "This of course represents a substantial cost for retailers to enable them to maintain standardization and meet consumers’ needs and expectations."

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